The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Ninth Parliament, formed through the December 29 general elections, goes into its first session on January 25 after more than two years of the dissolution of the previous Parliament.

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed has summoned the new parliament into its first session at 3:00 pm on the day. An order in this regard has already been sent to the Parliament Secretariat

Formation of the Ninth Parliament has been delayed for about two years as the January 22 parliamentary elections were forced to stall due to political chaos between the two major political alliances.

The Eighth Parliament had been officially declared dissolved on completion of its five-year term on October 29, 2006.

The Ninth Parliament will elect the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker of the House and new President of the country.

Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already named her party senior leader Zillur Rahman for the office of the President.

Incumbent President Iajuddin Ahmed, who was elected by former ruling BNP, has already completed his five-year term. As per the Constitution, Iajuddin will hold the presidency until his successor enters upon the office.

Party sources said former Speaker Abdul Hamid Advocate is likely to be elected new Speaker of the Ninth Parliament.

Incumbent Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar was elected Speaker following the BNP's landslide victory in 2001 general polls. Now, Barrister Sircar is going to quit the post as he lost his seat along with his party's massive defeat in the December 29 elections.

Chief Whip Abdus Shaheed yesterday told reporters that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker would be elected on the first day of the session.

AL-led mohajote in its election manifesto said it would elect Deputy Speaker from the opposition Bench.

Abdus Shaheed also indicated that the Ordinances promulgated by the President during the past caretaker government and which have still validity might be laid down at the first sitting of the maiden session.

Besides, he said the Business Advisory Committee would also be constituted on the first day or afterwards.

Regarding the election to the post of President, Abdus Shaheed said it would be held according to the schedule to be announced by the Election Commission (EC).

However, sources said it was yet to decide whether the incumbent President would address the new Parliament.

According to Article 73 (2) of the Constitution, the President shall address Parliament at the commencement of the first session after a general election of members of Parliament and at the commencement of the first session each year.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is going to take the opposition bench, at a meeting of party MPs-elect on Tuesday has already taken the decision to attend the first session of the new Parliament and extend its cooperation to the AL in ruling the country.

The meeting at Chairperson's Gulshan Office was held with Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the chair.

Meanwhile, Joint General Secretary of ruling Awami League Syed Ashraful Islam on Thursday welcomed the BNP's decision to attend the first session of the 9th Parliament.

Speaking at a press briefing this evening at the AL president's office in Dhanmondi, he hoped the BNP's role in the parliament would keep the house of lawmakers more dynamic and effective.